A palynological study of some shallow cores from the Hebridean Slope

The majority of the samples studied are from dark brown/black clay successions. These proved rich in dinoflagellate cysts indicative of cold, glacial conditions and ages no older than Mid-Late Pleistocene. Some samples include elements pointing to deposition in outer neritic/oceanic depositional settings. Reworking was also extremely common with allochthonous floras of Carboniferous, Jurassic, Cretaceous and Palaeogene ages. The Carboniferous, Jurassic and Cretaceous reworked floras were probably transported from the north and/or west by glacial activity. The Carboniferous and Jurassic material was probably sourced from the Midland Valley and Minch Basin respectively. The small proportions of Cretaceous material reflect the paucity of Cretaceous strata in Scotland. However, the Palaeogene input is likely to be local from the offshore area. Due to the overall similarities in organic facies, they are all of probable Late Pleistocene age. The vibrocores studied which indicate cold conditions are: 56-10/249 CS, 56-10/250 CS, 56-10/251 CS, 56-10/252 CS and the lowermost three samples in 56-10/255 VE. The single sample from dark sand in 56-10/253 VE produced an abundant, diverse dinoflagellate cyst flora indicative of a Holocene age, interglacial conditions and an outer neritic/oceanic setting. The uppermost sample in vibrocore 56-10/255 VE, also of dark sand, produced a sparser, yet similar flora.